Nurses are key players in health care delivery in the U.S. and around the world. The undergraduate program at the VCU School of Nursing provides three options for obtaining the B.S. in Nursing. These include two pre-licensure options: the traditional and accelerated B.S. options and the R.N. to B.S. option. Students may be admitted to the traditional pre-licensure program after one year of college courses or upon completion of a baccalaureate degree in another field of study. The traditional program can be completed in three years with summers free. The accelerated B.S. program is an intense, quick-paced program for those with at least a baccalaureate degree in another field. It can be completed in 19 months of full-time, year-round study. Graduates of both options have the skills and knowledge to enter the profession of nursing, and are eligible to apply for the licensing examination provided by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The R.N. to B.S. degree option is for R.N. graduates of diploma or associate degree programs who want to continue making a commitment to nursing by advancing their education with a baccalaureate degree. The R.N. to B.S. program is fully online and allows a practicing R.N. to earn the B.S. degree in six part-time semesters.